WASHINGTON — The Department of Transportation will loan the Port of Longview, Wash., up to $35.9 million to support the port’s rail expansion project, which will double capacity and enable the Columbia River facility to handle longer unit trains.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the loan yesterday as part of improvements to the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. The program now can finance up to 49% of eligible projects through low-interest long-term loans.
“This expansion of the Port of Longview will strengthen our export capacity, improve safety, and unleash the region’s rural economy,” Duffy said in a statement.
Phase 1 of the Longview project will extend existing 7,500-foot tracks to 8,500 feet, build six new 8,500-foot tracks, and add a new six-track right-of-way embankment to allow for future expansion. It also will allow the port to revitalize its Berth 4 grain terminal.
The Port of Longview has eight marine terminals and waterfront industrial property spanning 835 acres on the deep-draft Columbia River, 66 miles from the Pacific Ocean in rural southwest Washington state. The port handles exports of breakbulk cargo as well as grain, potash, and soda ash.
The original Industrial Rail Corridor, completed in 2004, connected the port to BNSF and Union Pacific via their jointly owned terminal line, the Longview Switching Co. The original rail link spurred exponential growth, attracting a new grain export terminal and increasing cargo tonnage across the docks by more than 500%, according to the port.
Construction on the expansion project, which is being funded by a combination of federal, state, and local funds, began this year and is expected to be completed in 2028.
